General Surgery Coding Alert
Easy Instructions to Download The Fee Schedule Database
Scroll down the page until you find the link for the "2005 National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File." Click on the link, choose the file named "RVU05 B.zip," accept the license agreement and select "RVU05 B.zip" a second time to download the file.
Note: You may choose to open the file from the CMS Web site, or you may save the file to your computer. In either case, you must have WinZip software to access the file.
The unzipped file contains several individual files. Select and open the file named "PPRRVU05" (the same file is available in Excel or notepad format). The file is arranged sequentially by code, and you can find any code quickly by using the "search" function (press down the "control" and "f" keys at the same time).
General Surgery Coding Alert
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CPT contains 13 codes to describe placement of central venous access (CVA) devices:
36555 - [...] - Make Your Venous Access Coding Easy With This Chart
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Apply modifier -26 for services in a facility setting
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Proper modifier use, RVU information and more are just a download away
If you are looking [...] - You Be the Coder:
When Is -77 Appropriate?
Question: One of our surgeons performed a hemorrhoidectomy for a patient in 2001. Another surgeon [...] - Easy Instructions to Download The Fee Schedule Database
To download the Physician fee schedule Database, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/physicians/pfs/default.asp or use the [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Choose Wound Code by Body Surface Percentage
Question: The surgeon debrided two sites with infected decubiti. Should I report each site separately? [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Stick With POS 21 for Inpatient
Question: We rushed a patient into surgery from the emergency department. The surgeon admitted the [...]
